The zodiac wheel is a circle (symbolizing no beginning and no end) divided into twelve segments called houses that represent different areas of life.
Every house provides a home for the planets residing there – giving that planet a place to act out its particular energy.
The horizontal line that connects the 1st and 7 house cusp (the cusp is the beginning of the house, marked by a new line) represents Earth’s horizon.
The 1st house cusp is the easternmost point and the 7th is the westernmost point. Planets near the 1st house cusp are called “rising” because they are coming up over the eastern horizon at the moment of birth.
Why is that a big deal? The Houses in an astrology chart represent different facets of your life, based on the time and location of birth, and show the gifts or obstacles you will face in this lifetime. In other words, if the birth time is incorrect, your entire astrological cosmology will be inaccurate, and that’s obviously a bummer.
To get started, you first need to find your anchor: the Ascendant. Also known as the rising sign, the Ascendant is the furthest left point of the central horizon line and quite literally reveals which zodiac sign was emerging from the eastern horizon at your exact moment of birth. The Ascendant also reveals the chart’s ruling planet. Someone with a Sagittarius Ascendant, for instance, is ruled by generous Jupiter, whereas a Pisces Ascendant is living in an empathetic Neptunian world.
We use the Ascendant not only to gauge our individual terrain, but also to create the chart’s distinctive architecture. Birth charts are read counterclockwise, with the Ascendant’s horizontal line delineating the First House. We follow the sections, or Houses, and on the right side of the horizon line at the Descendant, we start to make our way to the top of the chart. Finally, we conclude the cycle with the Twelfth House, the section that borders the Ascendant to the north.
Once we identify the way each planet and sign work together, we look to the Houses to discover exactly where that energy is manifesting.
As you trace your birth chart, you may find that you have many planets in certain houses, while others may be completely empty. That’s absolutely normal. The birth chart is simply a snapshot of the sky at your moment of birth, and since most celestial bodies travel in clusters, they often stay close together. While the empty areas don’t signify deficiencies, the locations of the planets do reveal important information.
Once we identify the way each planet and sign work together, we look to the Houses to discover exactly where that energy is manifesting. Is Venus-Scorpio in the Second House of material objects, which would make an individual especially drawn to financially stable lovers? Or is Venus-Scorpio in the Ninth House of travel, which would signify a penchant for long-distance romance? The planets within the Houses reveal the full scope of our experience and the nuances of our personality.
Now that you understand the importance of the Houses in astrology, let’s delve into each one.
First House of Self
You are defined by the First House, as defined by the Ascendant. It represents your physical attributes, overall personality, and the body you were born with. First House natal planets typically have a significant impact on the individual residing there (e.g., Mercury in the First House indicates a talkative person, while the moon in the First House indicates an emotional roller). When planets in the sky transit into this house, which is the first stop in the cycle, our objectives materialize and new endeavors, concepts, or viewpoints ultimately take shape. The energy of Aries is matched with this House.
The Second House of Possessions
The Second House is related to our personal finances, material possessions, and the concept of value. While it does rule money, it also covers our emotions, which live inside of us (and often affect us even more than money does). Natal planets in the Second House tend to seek security through their material world. Planets transiting the Second House reveal changes in resources or self-esteem. This House corresponds with Taurus energy.
The Third House of Communication
The 3rd house has to do with siblings, neighbors, youth, early school experiences and relationships with those who live nearby. Perhaps the most significant meaning of this house is communication – it tells us about every aspect of communication and all mental endeavors. This is also the house having to do with short distance travel. Keywords to this house include growth and exploration. This House corresponds with Gemini energy.
The Fourth House of Home and Family
The 4th house rules home, family, roots, and the end of all matters. Ancestors, heritage, and parents – particularly the nurturing parent, usually mother, are represented by this house. It is called the house of the soul, and the sign on the cusp of this house as well as any planets here can help us understand the qualities and elements of ourselves we keep guarded. This House corresponds with Cancer energy.
The Fifth House of Pleasure
The 5th house is the house of romance, conception, children, creativity, self-expression, and risks. Most importantly, this house is all about self-fulfillment – doing as one pleases. It is the house of the inner child as well as your own childhood. This House corresponds with Leo energy.
The Sixth House of Health
The Sixth House corresponds with health, wellness, and daily routines, including odd jobs. Where the body you’re born with exists in the First House, the choices made over a lifetime create the body found in your Sixth House. Naturally, our environment and life choices affect our health, such as self-care, having a good work-life balance, and whether you spend enough (or too much!) time in the sun, so let this house remind you to pay attention to your physical and mental well-being. This House corresponds with Virgo energy.
The Seventh House of Partnership
The 7th house (or Descendant) is the house opposite the 1st house of self and identity, and thus it is concerned with the awareness of others. The sign placed on the 7th house cusp describes how we approach a relationship and also indicates what we are attracted to in a partner. Indeed, the 7th house is the house of marriage, partnerships, and open enemies. Through these significant relationships, the lesson of being aware of others is learned. This House corresponds with Libra energy.
The Eighth House of Sex, Death, and Transformation
What do sex, death, and transformation have to do with one another? Well, they’re all animalistic instincts. Those with natal planets in the Eighth House are often attracted to supernatural or occult topics, have intense romances, and will likely go through several fabulous makeovers within their lifetime. The Eighth House reminds us that it’s okay to give in to our desires, we’re going to die one day after all, but to always be adaptable and ready to let go of the past to make room for the present and future. This House corresponds with Scorpio energy.
The Ninth House of Philosophy
The 9th house is the house of long distance travel, higher education, philosophy, religion, and politics. Opposite the 3rd house of accumulating knowledge, this house teaches us how we can share this knowledge gained through the 3rd with the world. This house asks the deep questions and helps us find the meaning and purpose in life. The 3rd house is where the journalist gets the information, but the 9th house is where he publishes it. This House corresponds with Sagittarius energy.
The Tenth House of Social Status
The 10th house (or Midheaven) is the most elevated point in the chart. This explains why the 10th house is concerned with career, status, honors, and recognition. It is also traditionally associated with our authority parent – most likely the father. The 10th house shows your reputation – the public image you present to the world. The very nature of our contribution to society is shown through the 10th house, and it is one of the places you can look to determine your true calling. This House corresponds with Capricorn energy.
The Eleventh House of Friendship
The 11th house is the house of friendships, hopes, wishes, and dreams. It talks about the relationship we have with the community and humanitarian issues. It is the most social of houses, indicating our involvement with groups, clubs, and organizations. In the 11th house, we find that dreams come true only when we consider society’s needs as well as our own. This House corresponds with Aquarius energy.
The Twelfth House of the Unconscious
In the sky, the Twelfth House exists just beneath the horizon: It’s quite literally the darkness before dawn. Likewise, the Twelfth House is considered the “unseen realm,” and governs all things that exist without physical forms, like dreams, secrets, and emotions. Those born with planets in the Twelfth House are often highly intuitive, perhaps even psychic. We attract karmic people into our lives when planets transit the Twelfth House, but during this time, we must also remember that not all relationships are meant to last. This House corresponds with Pisces energy.
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